CPC field-specific training

F03H: Plasma thrusters

Pierre Loiseleur June 2018Examiner, European Patent Office

European Patent Office 2

Agenda

▪ Introduction – Definitions

▪ F03H1 Scheme

▪ Examples

▪ Neighbouring fields

▪ Conclusion

European Patent Office

F03H PRODUCING A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST,

NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

▪ F03H1/00

Using plasma to produce a reactive propulsive thrust

− Definition statement – This place covers:

− Engines exhausting ions or a plasma (ions and electrons)

to produce a reactive propulsive thrust; Details thereof.

▪ F03H3/00

Use of photons to produce a reactive propulsive thrust

▪ F03H99/00

Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

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Introduction – Definitions

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Agenda

▪ Introduction – Definitions

▪ F03H1 Scheme

▪ Examples

▪ Neighbouring fields

▪ Conclusion

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F03H1 Scheme: IPC vs. CPC

49% of documents

classified in IPC F03H1

are classified in CPC

IPC CPC

▪ 1 main group

▪ 1 main group

&

▪ 15 sub-groups

▪ classified by all patent

offices

▪ classified by EPO classifiers

(now also by other

CPC offices)

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F03H1 Scheme

F03H1/00 (IPC) Using plasma to produce a reactive propulsive thrust

▪ F03H1/0006 {Details applicable to different types of thrusters}

▪ F03H1/0037 {Electrostatic ion thrusters}

▪ F03H1/0081 {Electromagnetic plasma thrusters}

▪ F03H1/0087 {Electro-dynamic thrusters, pulsed plasma thrusters}

▪ F03H1/0093 {Electro-thermal plasma thrusters}

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Agenda

▪ Introduction – Definitions

▪ F03H1 Scheme

▪ Examples

▪ Neighbouring fields

▪ Conclusion

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Examples

Gridded electrostatic thrusters

► F03H1/0043 {characterised by the acceleration grid}

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Examples

Field Emission Electric Propulsion [FEEP]

► F03H1/005

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Examples

Grid-less electrostatic (Hall-Effect Thruster)

► F03H1/0075

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Examples

Grid-less electrostatic (end-Hall)

► F03H1/0068

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Examples

Grid-less electrostatic (other than Hall-effect)F03H1/0062 . . {grid-less with an applied

magnetic field}

F03H1/0068 . . . {end-Hall type}

F03H1/0075 . . . {Hall-effect thrusters

with closed electron drift}

► F03H1/0062

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Examples

Electro-thermal plasma thrusters

► F03H1/0093

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Examples

Electromagnetic thrusters

► F03H1/0081

Electromagnetic: MHD engine

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Examples

Pulsed plasma thrusters

► F03H1/0087

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Examples

F03H99/00: thrusters "not otherwise provided for"

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Example: US 2016/0047364 A1

Controlling trigger pulse generation in a pulsed plasma thruster

Allocate both F03H1/0018 and F03H1/0087

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Agenda

▪ Introduction – Definitions

▪ F03H1 Scheme

▪ Examples

▪ Neighbouring fields

▪ Conclusion

European Patent Office

▪ Cosmonautic vehicles (B64G1)

− Arcjets, resistojets: B64G1/406

− Adaptations of ion or plasma engines : B64G1/405

▪ Ion beam tubes (H01J27)

▪ Generating or accelerating plasma (H05H1)

▪ Relationships with other classification places

− Multi-purpose ion sources which can be used inter alia

as ion thruster should be classified only in H01J 27/00

and lower.

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Neighbouring technical fields

F03H

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Neighbouring technical fields

BUT :

if there is a peculiar aspect

concerning an ion or plasma thruster,

then BOTH codes must be allocated

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Agenda

▪ Introduction – Definitions

▪ F03H1 Scheme

▪ Examples

▪ Neighbouring fields

▪ Conclusion

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Supplementary information

▪ CPC Scheme, Definitions, Training material

www.cpcinfo.org

▪ Search CPC by symbol or keyword

worldwide.espacenet.com/classification?

▪ Guide to the IPC

www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/classifications/ipc/en/guide/

guide_ipc.pdf

▪ Guide to the CPC

www.cooperativepatentclassification.org/publications/

GuideToTheCPC.pdf

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Conclusion

Always keep in mind when classifying :

The purpose of classification is to retrieve easily and quickly

documents according to their technical teaching